The Different Types of Facial Rollers & Which One You Should Be Using

Pretty much all beauty routines have a tool that takes them to the next level. From the handfuls of brushes to the variety of sponges that help ace your glow, we’re always trying out new items that make our look totally flawless.

Today we’re talking about the skincare tool that’s been floating around influencer-Instagram and seems to be a topic of question among many new skincare lovers: facial rollers. They’re everywhere and pretty AF, but with all the options on the market, it may be confusing as to which facial roller you should actually be using. “They seem really cool and I want to get into them, but I don’t know much about them,” explains Morgan Mullings, a junior at St. John’s University.

Have no fear! While there are many different types of facial rollers to shop, there are really only three that you should become an expert on (and potentially treat yourself to).

The most commonly used (and Insta-worthy) are facial rollers made with stones like rose quartz, jade, amethyst and other minerals. The stone roller, which has been used in China since the17th century, is a great starter tool if you’re interested in rolling.

While each stone has basically the same benefits, the metaphysical and spiritual meanings of the different stones vary. YouTuber Marianna Hewitt discusses the spiritual aspects of stone facial rollers in her video that goes into detail about jade rollers and how to use them.

“Jade is said to help with anxiety and fatigue, and then also has healing powers in it,” she explains. “So, other people like it because if you like crystals it's like putting crystal energy right into your skin.”

The facial roller featured in Hewitt’s video is from the brand Herbivore ($30), known for its clean beauty products featuring simple and eco-friendly ingredients. Similar to other stone facial rollers, Herbivore Botanicals describes their smooth stone facial roller as a product that “supports lymphatic drainage to reduce the appearance of puffiness, and wrinkles.”

Alla Rickett, a junior at Elon University, bought her jade roller from an apothecary and has all the feels after adding it to her skincare routine. “It just feels really good on my skin, I feel like it’s taken my skincare routine to the next level,” she says.

Use your stone roller after applying serums to help them soak into your skin, which is also a way to give yourself a soothing face massage. Whether you use it daily as a part of your personal ritual or just want to give your skin a refresh every now and then, this tool is the easiest and simplest to use.

Similar to stone facial rollers, the Uplift Massaging Beauty Roller ($69) is “designed to energize, enhance, revive, and uplift your skin,” according to Nurse Jamie. The roller is hexagonal with 24 mini tourmaline stones to give a deeper reach than a smooth stone roller.

According to Tati Westbrook of GlamLifeGuru, if you want a product that not only firms saggy skin but also depuffs baggy under eye areas, then this is the tool for you. “If you wake up puffy, this is your best friend,” she says. “You don’t need to use those gel eye patches––you can just go under the eye for about 45 seconds with [the roller].”

For your skincare routine, the tourmaline roller is best-used before applying any product to firm the skin in a relaxing, vitalizing way. It’s useful for those days the bags underneath your eyes are larger than your carry-on luggage and you don’t have time for firming gel or under eye patches.

Now, the microneedle facial roller is completely different from the others. This abrasive beauty tool features tiny needles that painlessly (yes, painlessly) slide over the skin, puncturing it as a way to alert the skin to produce more collagen and elastin. It may seem scary and intimidating, but microneedling is not new in the beauty industry, and this inexpensive tool makes it easy to do at home.

The ORA Microneedle Face Roller is only $26 and features 0.25-millimeter needles. It’s very important to find a roller from a brand that can be trusted; you don’t want to get the cheapest one you can find. Kim Sevy, licensed Esthetician, explains in her video below exactly how to microneedle.

When dealing with microneedles, the face roller size matters! Needles 0.1 to 0.2 millimeters work similar to the stone face roller, the small puncturing allows the skin care products to better absorb into the skin better. However, the 0.5-millimeter needles actually puncture the skin enough to the point where there is new skin growth. Think back to the times you’d scrape your knee or elbow as a kid and you’d eventually grow back the skin. Gross, I know, but with microneedling, it’s less pain and gives off smoother complexions. Like with any beauty tool, it’s important to read the instructions carefully. And when in doubt, talk to your dermatologist.

Overall, face rollers aren’t just another Instagram trend, but an innovative new tool to add to your skincare routine. Whether you’re looking for a simple relaxing tool like the stone rollers, or you want a tool that creates a deeper skin change like the microneedle roller, these rollers are a great way to save money on facials and other beauty procedures. Roll on!

Alexis Gaskin is a Her Campus Editorial Intern for Fall 2018. She is a current Public Relations major and Journalism minor at St. John's University graduating in 2020. Originally from Maryland, she now calls NYC her home even though she still gets lost taking the F train. Alexis has a passion for all things beautiful and making sure that people know that no matter their size, sexual orientation, or race that they deserve to be on the cover of magazines. She can almost always be found in the makeup aisle or near anything sparkly. She also thinks she's really funny and can be found on Instagram and Twitter as @alexis_gaskin.